PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON JUNE 18-19 FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001622 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017 TAGS: KPAL ENRG ETRD ETTC PARM PGOV PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON JUNE 18-19 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: SECSTATE 80034 Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Portuguese Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha responded to the reftel points on U.S. policy interests regarding Cuba, Serbia, Kosovo, and Sudan. ¶2. (C) Cuba: Rocha reported that Portugal supported the proposal to remove EU sanctions. She emphasized Portugal's interest in supporting a gradual transition to democracy but underscored Portugal's concerns about having to lead the EU's efforts in that regard during its presidency, candidly admitting she hopes Fidel Castro will stay alive for the next six months. She added her view that the nations that voted against lifting the sanctions let individual national interests trump a common EU-wide interest. (Comment: Senior GOP interlocutors have regularly reached out to us to underscore their desire to collaborate with us in supporting a democratic transition in Cuba, while stressing the need not to take any steps that might have a negative humanitarian impact on a Cuban population that has grown to rely on a range of government-provided benefits. At the same time, they believe it is necessary to engage with both government and dissidents, and their support for the lifting of the sanctions was likely driven by a conclusion that continued sanctions were not helpful to their efforts to engage with the regime.) ¶3. (SBU) Serbia: Rocha said Portugal hopes for further positive signs of cooperation from the Serbian government. Portugal will see how the political debate flows on what "full cooperation" means over the next few months, but Rocha suggested that member states may become more flexible to encourage progress. ¶4. (SBU) Kosovo: Given Russia's intransigence, Portugal is inclined to agree with France's suggestion of holding off to allow for negotiation. Rocha said African partners were expressing their concerns about implementing Ahtisaari's proposal if it could prompt future independence claims elsewhere. ¶5. (SBU) Sudan: Rocha reported that France is seeking to link assistance to Darfur with humanitarian shipment security in the Central African Republic and aid to Chad. She stated that Portugal opposes linking the assistance to African nations because the African Union should take care of ground security for the Central African Republic. She added that the current EU support for Darfur is difficult enough to sustain without adding additional responsibilities. Hoffman